Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes the fallout from recent comments by Wilfried Zaha might have affected his performance in the draw with Newcastle.

Middlesbrough move level on points with leaders Leeds United despite being held at home by Swansea City.

Sam Simmonds grabs two tries as leaders Exeter make it four wins from four with victory over a stubborn Newcastle side.

Our live updates here have finished for the week, thank you for joining us.

You can stay up to date online, on BBC Newcastle, BBC Tees and on Look North.

If you want to get in touch with any news or send us photos you can tweet us, external, contact us via our Facebook page, external or email us.

We'll be back on Monday from 08:00 with more live updates.

James Harrison
Local Democracy Reporter

A new generation of Metros could prevent the kind of travel chaos caused by Storm Ali, the company says.

Fallen trees and other debris on overhead power lines saw disruption between Pelaw and South Shields on Wednesday.

But a revamped fleet, due to enter service in 2021, could make this a thing of the past, with the option for drivers to switch to an onboard battery when its usual power source is unavailable.

The £362m project will also provide comfier seats, phone charging points and air conditioning – as well as greater reliability.

A Nexus spokesman said: “The aim is to have a battery power supply in the new train fleet.

“That would mean trains could still be moved about the system in the event of a power supply problem or a section of overhead line being brought down in a storm."

Speaking at yesterday's meeting of the North East Combined Authority’s overview and scrutiny committee, Nexus managing director Tobyn Hughes said the new fleet could also be an "enabler" in aiding the extension of the Metro network.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A new council policy will require all new school plans in Hartlepool to have sprinkler systems.

The decision was made at the latest meeting of Hartlepool Borough Council's joint regeneration and children's service committee.

Cleveland Fire Brigade’s head of fire engineering, Joe Flounders, praised the decision:

“I fully support this policy, these buildings aren’t just schools, they are community hubs.

“Looking to secure the safety of our children, community and staff wherever they may be is absolutely essential.

“If a school was burnt down in a child’s last year with exams approaching it would have a massive impact on job expectations and their future.”

Sprinklers are mandatory in new school buildings in Scotland and Wales, but not in England.

Image source, Hartlepool Council

The dog has previously bitten 10 people before it attacked a 73-year-old woman, who later died.

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

Image source, NCJ Media

Fearful children have told council bosses that they would be unable to use a community library if a drug and alcohol recovery hub opens there.

According to the authority, the plans will not pose risk to the community are vital to keep the library from closing.

More than 100 residents debated the plans in a meeting on Thursday night.

One 11-year-old girl told the crowd at the Robert Stewart Memorial Church: “I really like using the library, but after you change it my mum will be too busy to bring me and she would have to if it is exclusively for people recovering from drug addiction.”

Eugene Milne, the council’s director of public health, said the plan were a way of dealing with "swingering cuts":

“It is not a done deal. We are looking at how we can introduce this and address fears and worries people have expressed. I do not consider this to be an increased risk to the community.”

Earlier on Thursday, the council had announced that it has decided on a “phased launch” of the rehabilitation services in a bid to calm residents’ fears. Coun Kim McGuinness, cabinet member for sport, culture and public health, confirmed that a review of the hub will take place after three months, and that a risk assessment and safeguarding review will be carried out.

Image source, NCJ Media

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Nusrat Ghani, visited the Port of Tyne yesterday.

He enjoyed a boat trip on the River Tyne and learnt more about Port of Tyne Enterprise Zone sites and the Port's commitment to creating apprenticeship opportunities.

Mr Ghani said: “The Port of Tyne is rightly proud to keep the country topped up with tea – handling 40% of all loose leaf imports – as well as boosting the economy as the UK’s second largest car exporter.

“Crucial to this is the port’s employees and it was great to see its apprenticeship programme supporting many young people, especially women, reach their potential.”

Image source, Port of Tyne

Two people have been jailed over the shooting of a nightclub bouncer in Newcastle.

A new exhibition will commemorate the First World War centenary.

Armistice: Living with the Peace is part of Open Treasure, Durham Cathedral's interactive visitor experience.

A nationwide installation will be part of the exhibition. Visitors will see clear Perspex silhouettes around the Cathedral itself - representative figures placed into community settings to remember names on local war memorials.

Armistice: Living with the Peace will run from Tuesday 25 September 2018 until Saturday 2 February 2019.

Image source, Getty Images

County Durham teenager Courtney Hadwin has told her fans new music is on the way after she came sixth in America’s Got Talent.

Simon Cowell had already promised to sign her to his label if she failed to win the contest.

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

A biscuit ban should be enforced at Gateshead Council in a bid to crack down on plastic waste, according to the borough's Liberal Democrat leader.

Councillor Jonathan Wallace, pictured below, has hit out at the number of individually-wrapped biscuits served at civic centre meetings.

At a full council meeting on Thursday, Coun Wallace called for the authority to stop buying the biscuits. He said: "For what purpose do we have to have these individually wrapped biscuits?

"I know you will say that they keep for longer, but we should not be keeping them at all.

"We should not be serving biscuits, especially ones that will last for thousands of years if they go to landfill."

Council leader Martin Gannon said that it was a "complex issue", but that council will "look at what is the appropriate thing to do".

Image source, NCJ Media

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

Newcastle Falcons bosses are set to clash with residents over plans to use their Kingston Park stadium as an events venue.

The club wants to hold events, including the Living North Christmas Fair, in marquees on its west stand pitch. It has asked Newcastle City Council for a licence to sell alcohol until midnight, as well as playing music, dance, films, and indoor sporting events.

But residents are concerned the noise will disrupt their everyday lives.

Newcastle City Council's licensing sub-committee will decide on the application at a meeting next Tuesday.

Image source, NCJ Media

The men were cleared of conspiracy to murder after a doorman was shot by a motorcyclist.

Image source, Northumbria Police

One man has been jailed and two others given further sentences after a bouncer was shot outside a Newcastle nightclub.

Bouncer Matthew McCaulay was seriously injured when a man opened fire with a sawn-off shotgun at the Tup Tup Palace in 2015.

John Henry Sayers (pictured above right) was given a three-and-a-half-year sentence at the Old Bailey on Friday after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Sayers, 54, and Michael Dixon, 50, both from Walker, had been cleared of conspiracy to murder.

Dixon (pictured above left) was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and given a life sentence with a minimum of eight years. This will run concurrent to another sentence he is already serving.

Michael McDougall, 50, and of no fixed address, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

The convicted murderer was given two years to run consecutively after his current life sentence.

Former Australia batsman Marcus North takes up the post of Durham director of cricket as part of a club restructure.

A man, 67, arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm is released under investigation.

Durham host Middlesex in County Championship Division Two - live BBC local radio commentary.

People in a Newcastle suburb are fighting back against plans to put a drug and alcohol recovery centre for addicts in the local library.

During a heated public meeting in Fenham last night residents said they felt deceived after the initial planning application referred to the unit as a "health and well being hub" with no mention of addiction services.

Local school heads have also said they were opposed, as children use the library independently and go to the swimming baths next to it.

Newcastle City Council said the facility would begin with reduced hours as part of a phased launch and the intention was to open it outside of school hours.